Polyacrylate esters with quaternary ammonium groups

Abstract

Polyacrylate esters with quaternary ammonium groups are disclosed. The esters are obtained by transesterifying alkyl polyacrylate esters with dialkylaminoalkanols, followed by quaternization. The polymers are free of physiologically questionable components and can therefore be used for the preparation of cosmetic products, preferably for hair cosmetics. The polymers furthermore are suitable for finishing fibers or of textile products. The invention is furthermore directed to polyacrylate esters with tertiary amino groups, which are formed as intermediates in the preparation of polyacrylate esters with quaternary ammonium groups.

We claim: 
     
       1. A polyacrylate ester having quaternary ammonium groups, said ester being the transesterification product of (a) an alkyl polyacrylate ester, obtained by free radical polymerization, the alkyl groups of which contain 1 to 8 carbon atoms, with   (b) a compound of the general formula ##STR6##  wherein R 1  is a bivalent group of the general formula ##STR7##  which R 4  is hydrogen or an alkyl group with 1 to 16 carbon atoms, n=2, 3 or 4,   m=1 to 20,   p=2, 3 or 4 and   R 2 , R 3  are alkyl groups with 1 to 18 carbon atoms, the transesterification being performed (i) in such amounts that up to 70% of the ester groups are transesterified,   (ii) in the presence of a transesterification catalyst, and   (iii) in the presence of a solvent,      whereby a polyacrylate ester with tertiary amino groups is formed as an intermediate, and     (c) subsequent quaternization of the intermediate with alkyl or alkylaryl halide of the general formula   R.sup.5 X     wherein   R 5  is an alkyl group with 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a benzyl group and   X is a halogen atom,   or with dimethyl or diethyl sulfate, at normal or elevated pressure.     
     
     
       2. A polyacrylate ester as claimed in claim 1, wherein (a) is methyl polyacrylate and (b) is dimethyl- or diethylaminoethanol, said alcohol being employed in such amounts that 20 to 50% of the ester groups of (a) are transesterified, the subsequent quaternization (c) being carried out with methyl chloride. 
     
     
       3. A polyacrylate esters as claimed in claim 1 or 2, which has an average molecular weight of 1,000 to 50,000. 
     
     
       4. A polyacrylate ester as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transesterification is carried out at a temperature of between about 70°to 140° C. while the quaternization is performed at a temperature of about between 20° to 140° C.